Professional classifications of American nurses, 1910 to 1935

Nursing's claim to professional status is debatable. The purpose of this historical study is to describe the official classifications of American nurses as professionals or nonprofessionals, from 1910 to 1935. Labor legislation before World War I, military decisions during that war, and federal mandates during the Great Depression resulted in differing professional classifications of nurses. Although nurse leaders aspired to traditional criteria of professionalism, such as individual responsibility and a deep, distinct body of knowledge, these criteria were subsumed by political, financial, and gender issues. This study demonstrates that professional status cannot be assured by attainment of professional criteria alone, but is defined by more diverse and complex issues.